Igniting system for smudge pots



May 8,' 1934. R. H. DART IGNITING SYSTEM FOR SMUDGE POTS Aug 2 F ig R-fgLB Patented May 8, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in means for igniting the contents smudge pots such as are used in orchards to minimize harmful effects of frost.

At present these smudge pots must he individually lit, which takes a number of men to cover all the ground within a reasonable length of time and who must be kept on hand by the owner for the full period during which a frost may be errpected. This also necessitates the owner or his foreman having to make nightly vigils while kee ing track of the temperature in order that the pots may be lighted when the temperature has dropped to the low point necessary to warrant 5 smudging operations. This present method operation obviously entails considerable labor cost which in the aggregate totals up to a considerable amount.

The principal obi ect of my invention is to avoid and eliminate the above named inconvenient,

costly and inefiicient method by. providing" an electrically actuated system by means of which" the contents of all the smudge pots may be ignited simultaneously; .the electrical apparatus heing 5 preferably actuated by a suitably positioned thermostat, or by a single hand switch in the opera ing house. The smudge pots after once having been used must of course he refilled, and the g nition starting members replaced. This er operation however may be done in conjunction with the refilling of the pots and may consume but little additional time.

The operator thus need onlyiill the replace the ignition members and may then leave the premises without further care knowing that should the necessity arise the pots will he ignited at the proper time.

A further object is to provide an electric igniting apparatus or such a nature that low tension it) and cheap wiring may he used, and such wiring may be of a portable nature, resting on the ground between the pots, The use of my improved eye tem thus does not entail any permanent insulation in the orchard and the installing and operat= log costs are very low.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which. will be exceedingly efiective tor the purposeior which it is designed. a

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

a; lin the drawing similar characters or reference parts in the several views:

Fig. a side view. of an igniting unit partly loroken away and in section shown as installed and in connection with a mudge pot.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an igniting car= v tridge as mounted its hanger the latter loeiug lid detached from its support.

Fig. 3 is a diagram of a circuit for the not can tridge igniter and a preferred form oi switch ar= rangement therein.

Referring now more particularly to the char-= 6t? actors of reference on the drawing, the numeral 1 denotes the side wall of a smudge pot or" any standard character adapted to contain a supply oi the usual oil 2 to he ignited. Provided for do tachahle engagement with the rim of the pot 21 ill clamping bracket or hanger 3 on which is molested an insulation block i which overhangs the pot.

A small low voltage electric ignition element 5 such is used in various cigarette and cigar lighters is mounted on and depends from the un- "3 tier lace oi the block inwardly oi the crochet. Said element adapted to ignite the adjacent end of an inflammable cartridge 6 which depends pot irom under the element. This cartridge may he made of any suitable material 3 such as a cellulose product, the waste matter paper pulp mills, sawdust, and like prod ucts. These necessary may he irnpregne col h dipped a substance of a more readilyimdemmahle nature or which aids in combustion, such parafiine and other hydro-carbon prowl The use of materials of the above general character will not only alosorh a certain quantity of what is now considered waste hut enables the cartridges to be molded into any desired shape. on The cartridges must he of such a material as will not sink to the hottomoi the oil and are prei-= erahly oi a relatively light density the top so they will catch on fire and burn quickly at that end; and oi relatively heavy density toward the isottom so that when once burning they will last for some little time.

he'cartridge is arranged to be supported f om adjacent its upper end from the block 4 and in close relation-to and. under the element 5, and so too will drop onto theoil when the upper portion of the cartridge has been burned away. This may he done in various ways. In the present case it show the cartridge as loeim formed with a pair of opposed lugs "toward the top, of the same 1% material as the cartridge so that they will also burn. These lugs are adapted to rest onspaced signal rings 8 which surround the cartridge toward its upper end'and which are supported from the block 4 by elements 9 depending therefrom.

The spacing between the rings is suflicient to permit the insertion of the lugs therebetween so that the cartridge may be placed in position by raising itwith the lugs projecting upwardly between said rings, and then turning thecartridge so that the lugs rest on the rings.

When the element 5 is energized therefore the cartridge being in close relationship therewith will be ignited, and after its upper portion including the supporting lugs has burned away it will drop of its own weight onto the oil while continuing to burn. The size and density of the then remaining portion, of the cartridge is such that it will burn for some time after dropping, as for instance two or three minutes, insuring the ignition of the oil with which it is in contact even when the oil is in a cold condition, as will naturally be the case. To promote the ignition and subsequent burning .of the cartridge it may be provided with a longitudinal draft opening 10 therethrough and lateral openings 11 toward the bottom as well if desired.

To prevent the conductors to the igniting element from being damaged by the heat or flame from the burning oil the leads from said element extend through the blocks: to binding posts 12 on its outer edge, which is outwardly of the pot,

and to which the line wiring is detachably con-' nected by clips.13 as'indicated in Fig. 1.

The wiring 14 for each row or series of pots is laid along the ground adjacent the row, beingconnected in parallel to the various elements 5. These wires are connected to the main line wires 15 in which a thermostatically controlled switch 16 may be interposed at such a location as to'be actuated by a temperature the same as that in the orchard itself.

A hand switch 17 may also be interposed in the line so that the circuit may be broken after it has been closed for some time, or an automatic time actuated circuit breaking device may be provided for the purpose. I also preferably connect a bypass line 18 to the main line around the thermostat switch, with a hand switch 19 therein so that the circuit may be closed and opened if desired independent of the action of the thermostat switch.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for igniting the contents of a smudge pot including an inflammable body, means incorporated in part with said body only adjacent body will drop of itself onto said contents.

3. The method of igniting the contents of a smudge pot consisting in placing an inflammable body over the pot, suspending the body above the contents of the pot in such a manner that when burned away a certain amount at its upper end the body will drop of itself into the pot, and igniting the body at its upper end.

4. A device for igniting the contents of a smudge pot comprising a block, means to support the block on the pot in overhanging relation thereto, a downwardly facing electric ignition element mounted on the under side of the block, an inflammable body depending from under and in close relation with the element, and means detachably supporting the body from the block so that when the upper end portion of the body has burned away, it will drop of itself into the pot.

- 5. A device for igniting the contents of a smudge pot comprising a block, means to support the block on the pot in overhanging relation thereto, a downwardly facing electric ignition element mounted on the under side of the block, 1 an inflammable body depending from under and in close relation with the element, lugs formed of the body material projecting outwardly from the body toward its upper end, and members suspended from the block on which said lugs detachably rest. 1

6. A device for igniting the contents of a smudge pot including a floatable combustible body, means normally supporting the body adjacent its upper end in overhanging relation to the 1 pot, and means to ignite the upper portion of the body whereby after the supported portion of the body has burnedaway said body will drop into the potand will continue burning while floating on the surface of the contents thereof. 1

'7. A device for igniting the contents of a smudge pot including a combustible body, means normally supporting the body adjacent its upper end in overhanging relation to the pot, and means to ignite the upper portion of the body whereby 1 after the supported portion of the body has burned away said body will drop into the pot, the body being of a floatable character and having a relatively lower density at its upper than 1 capable of burning for some minutes, means to 1.

ignite the body at one end, and means supporting the body in overhanging relation to the pot so that said end is uppermost and so that said body will be free to drop of itself into the pot after the upper end portion only of the body has 1 burned away.

10. A device for igniting the contents of a smudge pot including a floatable combustible body capable of bumingv for some time, means to ignite the body, and means supporting the body in 1 overhanging relation to the pot and so that the body is free to drop of itself into the pot after only a relatively small portion of the body has burned away whereby said body will continue to burn while floating in the contents of the pot. 1 

